Bristol Regional Overview

My Guide Bristol will guide you to the best attractions and sights in a city brimming with a multitude of diverse experiences. Whether you plan to view the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge spanning the picturesque Avon Gorge, visit the award winning Brunel's ss Great Britain, the first iron steamer to cross the Atlantic, or feast your eyes on one of the UK's largest Street Art displays, 'See No Evil', you will find all the information you need here.This page gives you an overview of some of the delights in store for visitors to this fantastic city. Bristol enjoys a wonderful location in the heart of the West Country between Gloucestershire and Somerset and is served by great air, road, bus and train links . In the Regional Information section you can find out about the main areas of Bristol. We have based these geographical areas around the key attractions  you may want to visit. These areas are The Harbourside , Park Street, Clifton, the City Centre and the outer Bristol Area .

 

The city’s history is rooted in shipping and trading, with the impressive floating harbour beside the River Avon forming the hub of the community. Today the harbourside remains one of the focal points of the city, but the inhabitants and seafarers of old would fail to recognize "modern Bristol". The harbourside area has been attractively developed and makes a significant contribution to the city’s wealth of high-class museums and art galleries, attractions, nightlife, and restaurants.

Away from the harbourside there are several other notable areas providing the visitor with an abundance of interesting sights and things to do, including wonderful parks, historic churches and superb theatres .
 
The needs of those requiring retail therapy are well catered for by two large shopping centres. Cabot Circus in the center houses 15 flagship stores including the world famous Harvey Nichols, whilst The Mall on the outskirts of the city provides high street shopping with the benefit of free car parking. For a  "boutique" type experience the shops in up-market Clifton Village offer a more unique shopping experience.
 
If you are a first time visitor to the city a great way to get your bearings in summer is to take an open top bus tour that will introduce you to the main sights. However Bristol is an ideal city for leisurely exploration by foot. Ambling through the streets of Bristol you will discover a diverse range of things to do. It will take many days to explore every attraction in full and you could be occupied for at least two days in the harbourside area alone. If you are only here for a short time check out the top ten things to do.

For those taking a longer holiday Bristol’s location makes a perfect base for day trips so why not take the opportunity to explore some of the South West of England's finest countryside and towns.

Bristolians are very friendly and welcoming people. Some of the locals have a very distinctive and unique dialect, sometimes known as "Brizzle" which at first can be a bit puzzling for a stranger.

The best time to visit Bristol is during the summer months when it can be warm and sunny and the city hosts a variety of festivals including the Bristol Harbour Festival, Bristol International Kite Festival, Bristol Balloon Fiesta and BrisFest - an exciting mix of music, theatre, comedy and circus. In the winter the weather is more likely to be variable but the temperatures usually remain mild.

Photographs by N. Hindmarch